The support from political parties, trade unions and public welfare organisations has been encouraging for the indefinite relay fast initiated earlier this month by the Federation for Retrieval of Palpannai-Thuvakudi Service Roads along the 14.5 km stretch.
Within a few days of the start of the protest, DMK Organising President M.K. Stalin had raised the issue in the Assembly in a Calling Attention Motion to drive home the importance of fulfilling the demand of the people expeditiously.
The seventh day of the relay fast was inaugurated by CPI State Committee Member T. Indrajit, and it ended with support expressed by CPI (M) Rural District Secretary Jegadeesan. On the next day, former Transport Minister K.N. Nehru addressed the protestors. CPI leader R. Nallakannu will be addressing the demonstrators on Thursday.
Representatives of BHEL employees affiliated to various trade unions have been steadfast in their support to the protestors from various localities along the sides of the stretch.
Hundreds of residents of several localities including Vignesh Nagar, LIC Nagar, Raghavendra Nagar, Priyanka Nagar, Santhosh Nagar, Sri Balaji Nagar, Balaji Nagar, Sriram Nagar, Vethathri Nagar, Ashtalakshmi Nagar, R.K. Puram, Sakthi Nagar, Gokul Nagar, Kalaivanar Nagar, AVM Jothi Nagar, Venugopal Nagar, Kaviri Nagar, Indra Nagar, Tirunagar, Bharathidasan Nagar, Pual Nagar, and Fathimapuram have taken turns to sustain the indefinite hunger fast. Over 2,000 residents took part in the fast conducted for 10 days so far, S. Sakthivel, one of the organisers, said.
The Federation that had initially planned not to relent until the start of land acquisition process for which the State had sanctioned Rs. 84.5 crore during 2011, has now come around to realising that since the issue has now been taken to the attention of the government for prompt action, the protest could be suspended for now.
“Intensified agitations will be carried out in the next phase if the government response is not satisfactory. “The relay fast is a precursor to a series of aggressive protests ahead involving youths,” Mr. Sakthivel said.
